Blackpool

BA seaside resort in Lancashire on the Britain’s northwest coast, Blackpool is nothing short of a fun-filled adventure. Whether you’re on a family vacation or a couple getaway, England’s most loved holiday destination promises to entertain; there’s something for everyone here, no matter what and age group one belongs to. There’s the Pleasure Beach for adventurous rides, the Sandcastle Waterpark with the world’s longest indoor roller coaster waterslide and the Blackpool Tower with its 4D cinema on the town’s history and the SKYWALK. Explore the 1962 built North Pier with its rides, the Sea Life Centre with 2.5 m-long sharks and a giant octopus. Animal lovers can head to the Blackpool Zoo that houses more than 1,000 mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates. The year round events, including the Illuminations add to sparkling charm that the city is!

BA seaside resort in Lancashire on the Britain’s northwest coast, Blackpool is nothing short of a fun-filled adventure. Whether you’re on a family vacation or a couple getaway, England’s most loved holiday destination promises to entertain; there’s something for everyone here, no matter what and age group one belongs to. There’s the Pleasure Beach for adventurous rides, the Sandcastle Waterpark with the world’s longest indoor roller coaster waterslide and the Blackpool Tower with its 4D cinema on the town’s history and the SKYWALK. Explore the 1962 built North Pier with its rides, the Sea Life Centre with 2.5 m-long sharks and a giant octopus. Animal lovers can head to the Blackpool Zoo that houses more than 1,000 mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates. The year round events, including the Illuminations add to sparkling charm that the city is!

Blackpool Illuminations

Also known as The Lights or The Illuminations, the annual festival of lights that started in 1879, runs each year for 66 days- from late August until early November. The festival takes place on the Blackpool promenade and covers a distance of 6 miles (10 km) and over one million bulbs are used to shine the entire stretch of road. Each year on the first night of the Illuminations, a celebrity officially pulls the switch to turn on the entire display of lights, which is called The Big Switch On. Be amazed by this historical event showcasing a stunning display of lights!

Blackpool Pleasure Beach

You will understand Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s slogan “See It, Feel It, Love It” when you set foot into this amusement park situated along the Flyde coast. It is one of the most visited amusement parks in the world and was voted as the best theme park in the UK and the ninth best in Europe. Opened to the public in 1896 it is spread over an area of 42 acres, with a total of 41 rides out of which 10 of them are roller coasters. Head here for some thrilling rides.

Blackpool Sea Life Centre

If you love sharks, seahorses, stingrays or the harmless starfish, the SEA LIFE Blackpool is the place to be where you will be spoilt for choice with over 50 mind-blowing displays and 1,000 magnificent aquatic animals. Get up, close and personal with the nine-foot Japanese Crab called Big Daddy, dare to go snorkelling for 15 minutes with 20 sharks hovering around you or simply marvel at the mighty aquarium teeming with schools of colourful fish. This one’s a marine lover’s delight.

Blackpool Tower

A major attraction not to be missed when you are in Blackpool, the tower stands tall at 518 feet, and was completed in 1894. Experience a stunning view of the entire stretch along the coast or the beach called the Golden Mile, from the top of the tower called the Blackpool Tower Eye or simply the Tower Top. Even though it has been inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Blackpool Tower is not a free-standing structure as its base is hidden by the building within which is the Blackpool Tower Circus.

Blackpool Winter Gardens

Opened to the public in 1878, the Blackpool Winter Gardens is a vast entertainment complex, which houses 12 different venues including a theatre, a conference room and a ballroom. The gardens have had the privilege of hosting many annual conferences for the British political parties as well as trade unions. It is said that since World War II every British Prime Minister has addressed the public here at least once. Many music groups and bands such as the Pet Shop Boys, Queen, Slash, and Oasis have performed here as well.

Blackpool Zoo

Stroll around the 32 acres of sprawled-out parkland full of lakes, waterfalls and English woods when you visit the Blackpool Zoo. You will find all your favourite animals here staying in large enclosures where you can stroke a rabbit, hold a cockroach in your hand and hop alongside a kangaroo. It is an ideal family getaway, which houses more than 1,500 rare and exotic animals in its confines. End the day with a meal at the Zoo’s restaurant and cafe and purchase a souvenir from the gift shops to take back home.

Madame Tussauds Blackpool

Take your place alongside Simon Cowell at the X-Factor judging panel, meet F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and feel humbled in the presence of royalty when you see the Queen, Prince William and Kate Middleton in the Best of the British area. Get a taste of how a celebrity feels like when you get your own hand cast in wax and get to take it home with you as a souvenir. Take back an experience of a lifetime.

Sandcastle Water Park

Have the time of your life when you visit UK’s largest indoor waterpark, the Sandcastle Waterpark, which has slides, fun pools, a lazy river and other attractions to keep you enthralled. Located at South Beach in Blackpool, it has an 84-degree tropical climate with plenty of things to entertain the whole family. It was opened in 1986 and has over 18 water slides including the Super Soaker, which is UK’s largest water cannon. It also has the Monkey Island and Coconut Bay, which are areas specially designated for birthday parties and other events.

Stanley Park

Stanley Park was designed specifically for sporting purposes and boasts of numerous gardens, a boating lake and a woodland area. It occupies an area of 260 acres and its largest garden has a fountain built entirely from Italian marble and houses several statues including a pair of Medici Lions. Apart from this, the park also has a tennis court, a tea room, a conservatory, a visitor’s centre, and the Cocker Clock Tower, which is a war memorial. It was named after Dr William Cocker, the first mayor of Blackpool. Take a leisurely stroll through the Italian gardens and enjoy the wildlife in the boating pond.

Central Pier

This is one of the three piers in Blackpool, and its construction was done a year after the North Pier. The main purpose for this was based purely on pleasure, which was in the form of dancing in the early years. As time progressed, various other activities were added such as roller skating, steamboat rides, theatres, pubs, and amusement arcades. The most iconic structure here however, is the Ferris Wheel, which came up in 1990. It is a great way to get a panoramic view of the entire promenade.

Holy Trinity Church

This is an Anglican Church, which was constructed in 1895 on the site of the original church that was built in 1836. It is dedicated to the Holy Trinity and was built in the Decorated Gothic style of architecture, with yellow and red sandstone; the highlight is the tall red pyramidal style roof. Light a candle, say your prayers and pay obeisance at this lovely shrine.

Grundy Art Gallery

Established in 1911 the gallery has been the cultural and artistic hub of Blackpool since the past century. Its fine collection keeps changing from time to time and is displayed as part of temporary exhibitions. The gallery now houses over 2,000 objects and strives to encourage people from all walks of life to use the art displays as a means to dig deep and channelise their inner creativity. Modern art lovers, be sure to visit this little gem.

Grand Theatre Blackpool

Also referred to as the National Theatre of Variety, this is a Victorian-styled theatre, which was opened to the public in 1894 and completed its centenary in 1994. It is one of England’s premier heritage theatres and stands as one of the thirty listed buildings in the city. It can seat a total of 1,053 people together and is responsible for conserving and maintaining the exhaustive and historical collections belonging to the theatre.

Adrenalin Zone

Are you ready to scream your lungs out, are you ready to feel your heart in your mouth, are you man enough to brave the odds at the Adrenaline Zone? Then head over here and feel the excitement of the Skycoaster, ascend to dizzying heights with the Skyscreamer, bounce like a spring on the Maxibounce and finally test your balance and agility with Spider Mountain. This one’s for the adventure junkies.

Notarianni Ice Cream Blackpool Ltd.

You cannot visit Blackpool and leave without paying a visit to Notarianni for its ice cream, especially the simple and plain vanilla flavoured variety. Established in 1928 by Luigi Notarianni, an immigrant Italian and till today the generations after him continue to churn out the ice cream as it used to be back in the good old days. The best seller here however, is the Notarianni sundae, which is a combination of fresh strawberries and kiwis served with two scoops of ice cream and wafer biscuits in the colours of the Italian flag, i.e., red, green and white.